NOTRE-DAME

A history of the renowned Gothic edifice from its foundation to its restoration in the wake of the devastating fire of 2019.

Billing his subject as the most ancient, famous, and important monument in Paris, Curlee retraces in fervent tones Notre-Dame’s history from its 12th-century beginnings on. He takes note of its many distinctive architectural features and its ups and downs as a religious and cultural center, including its use as “an immense storage shed for munitions and wine” during the French Revolution. Curlee goes into exacting detail about the causes, course, and aftermath of the 2019 fire, which destroyed the spire and roof while spreading tons of toxic lead through the wreckage; at last, he outlines the heroic cleanup efforts that led to a triumphant reopening in December 2024. “It is resplendent,” he writes. “The rebuilt and refreshed old church has a new lease on life.” In other books, Curlee’s ultra-formal style of painting can look stodgy, but here it’s a nice fit, whether he’s depicting a worried-looking gargoyle against a fiery sky, Napoleon posing in imperial robes opposite a melodramatically grimacing Quasimodo, cutaway views of vaults and flying buttresses, or grand views of the original nave and huge stained-glass windows. In the backmatter, Curlee includes a roundup of descriptive measurements and historic anecdotes, along with a nod to David Macaulay’s classic Cathedral (2013). Afterword not seen.

Soaring tributes to both the building and the workers who preserved it.